Look at you, slaving over your computer in the land of college designed to help you achieve your goals. The American Dream is at your fingertips, so they say, and you are going to seize it.

Oh, girl, bless you.

It’s not about what you can be but who you can become.

A day is going to come where you are going to be a stay-at-home mom. I know, take a moment to process. You think you are much to smart. Brains, dear child, have nothing to do with purpose.

You can fight God to make Him fit into your plan. Or, you can abide and follow His lead.

Strap yourself in. You’re about to find more peace in the midst of a whole lot of crazy. You will change a whole lot of diapers, feel like a human vacuum cleaner, find yourself saying that you can’t go a day without a washer and dryer, and that you love a South facing driveway because the snow melts faster. Crazy, right? This seems pretty old school for a girl who burned her upper arm making frozen pizza, but this will leave you smiling pretty. Some of those friends around you who are getting their degree because it is the thing to do but really just want to get married and stay home will be led to work ventures they can’t imagine any more than you can see yourself staying home. You will celebrate them.

God’s dreams for you will breathe life into your spirit.

There is awesome in the midst of this crazy, honey. When you are living out your calling you won’t feel suffocated. Work won’t feel like work. You will count it gift and be energized for more. Hard to imagine when you think an A- will ruin your life, I get it, but there is more outside these dorm walls then you know exist. A literary agent will call and ask to represent you and you will get to pour words out on pages to inspire others and glorify God. And, get this, those dance shoes you wore growing up? You will get to put them back on! You, yes you, dear lamb, will write a mother/daughter program to bring life-changing fun and meaningful moments to the dance floor that will strengthen families. You will love every second.

Live life with an outward focus and you will be radically blessed.

This whole college thing is kind of narcissistic. Yes, it’s necessary but it’s all about you. Once you break out of the college bubble and immerse yourself in the world, you will have to choose how to live. Gratitude will guide. You will become a proud PTA mama to support the teachers and staff helping your children become more. Deep cutting pain that you’re channeling into your school success to control a world outside your grip will inspire you to say thank you often. More often as you grow because life will have a way of teaching you not to take anything for granted. Life can’t all be rosy. And it will balloon into life with your family. You will talk around the dinner table about ways you chose to be the good in the world. The smiles that come through this giving will be worth far more than the fat paycheck you’re imagining that aced bio test will yield.

The tiny moments, not the big picture, will make for a good life.

Even when life breaks you, you will lean in on your high school hottie now hubby – True story. He’s about to propose! – and you’ll grow closer because you’re on your knees together. You’ll laugh when you throw items in the oven because you saw it on HGTV as a quick clean solution when people are coming over and forget about it when prepping teacher appreciation muffins. “It looks like Elsa’s castle,” your girl will say. Disney movies are on the up and up too. You’ll clap when your girl stands on a stage and tells a group “Even when people say mean things, remember, whatever you’ve been told, you’re worth more than gold” and her dance advances to nationals. You’ll cry when with another when her volleyball season comes to an end. The tiny tot will get toothpaste on the toilet roll and you’ll still use it and your man will flirt with you on the phone.

Quit focusing on the American Dream and be comfortable in your own skin.

As it turns out, aging is pretty awesome. Your brain can’t make sense of this right now because thirty sounds ancient but, trust me, it’s true. You can quit comparing yourself to everyone around you and just be you. You will keep learning. You will keep struggling. You will fall flat on your face and you will get up again. You will cherish time with great people. You will share appreciation and learn to accept it yourself. You will reflect in alone time and see how His working in you is creating a better you.

You will love the you God created you to be.

So ease up, child. You have a lot to look forward to.